Here are 78 new stories in the PA Environment Digest about individuals, groups, local governments, farmers, businesses, watershed groups and many more working all across Pennsylvania to restore and protect the environment and show others the beauty that surrounds us.

While PA Environment Digest’s priority is to highlight positive examples of environmental and energy leadership, 2022 is an election year which demands accountability to voters.

PA Environment Digest Is Putting The Best Links To Environment & Energy Articles and NewsClips Here.   Are You Telling Your Story?

On September 20, the departments of Education, Environmental Protection, and Conservation and Natural Resources honored U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools across Pennsylvania in recognition of their environmental sustainability efforts.

On September 20, the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership announced their 11th Annual Millstone Watershed Heroes to recognize their exemplary work on behalf of clean water in the watershed in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties.

On September 20, Ali Tarquino Morris, Director Of DEP’s Bureau of Waste Management, told the Citizen Advisory Council conventional oil and gas operator plans to dispose of their wastewater by dumping it on dirt and gravel roads as a dust suppressant continue to fail to meet the state’s Residual Waste Regulations.

By Dave Blehi, Penn State News

In the first peer-reviewed study of EPA-designated Hazardous Air Pollutants in the natural gas transmission system, researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and the University of California reviewed industry data and found HAPs were “ubiquitous throughout the gas transmission system, including pipelines, LNG facilities and storage facilities.”

On September 19, staff from the Department of Environmental Protection said they plan to finalize the first bid packages by the end of this week to plug 79 abandoned conventional oil and gas wells under the new taxpayer-funded well plugging program authorized under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

On September 19, the U.S. Department of the Interior notified the Department of Environmental Protection state legislation that became law in July may “preclude state compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act or the Build America, Buy American Act” under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law conventional Oil and Gas Well Plugging Program.

On September 20, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a two-hour hearing on natural gas production and pipeline distribution system without once discussing the legitimate concerns people living in and around these facilities have about their health, safety and environmental and water supply impacts or the record $70 million penalties assessed on pipelines for violating environmental laws.

The following DEP notices were published in the September 24 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities.  Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments.

Energy leaders from around the world gathered in Pittsburgh for the Global Clean Energy Action Forum September 21-23 to talk about effective ways to accelerate the transition to clean energy and fight climate change.

On September 22, Gov. Tom Wolf told the first-ever Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh about Pennsylvania’s significant progress in the transition to clean energy and vowed that the Commonwealth will continue to be a leader in energy innovation.

On September 23, the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, co-chaired by Gov. Wolf, announced the publication of a new report, Successful Deployment of Carbon Management and Hydrogen Economies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

On September 19, the PA Environmental Council submitted comments to the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for its September 19 information meeting on carbon capture and the proposed hydrogen hub in Western Pennsylvania.

With solar energy policy on the agenda of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee on September 20, dozens of landowners from across Pennsylvania sent letters in support of bills Senate Bill 472 (Scavello-R-Monroe) [which is in the Committee] and House Bill 1555 (Kaufer-R-Luzerne).

On September 21, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced DCNR will produce or purchase 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

On September 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s issued a report celebrating the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership’s 15th Anniversary that highlights Partner achievements in supermarket refrigerant management.

The latest Environmental Justice newsletter from the Department of Environmental Protection includes an interview with EJ Champion James D. Rebarchak--

By Kristen Koch, Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center

By: Andy Yencha, Extension Educator & Jodi Sulpizio, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator York County

By Travis Wingard, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator Cameron, Elk, Potter, McKean Counties

On September 20, the Commonwealth Financing Authority announced the approval of $18.2 million in funding for 130 projects in 40 counties to improve water infrastructure, recreation, protect and restore the environment.

On September 6, ClearWater Conservancy was awarded a grant from the Community Conservation Partnership Program administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to install new riparian buffers, also known as streamside forests, along streams on seven properties in the Spring Creek, Spruce Creek, and Penns Creek watersheds.

Applicants now have until October 31 to apply for $1.3 million in FY 2022 Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program Grants from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

On September 20, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement announced eight projects will share $1.6 million in grants through its Applied Science Program, including four projects that will study methods to improve the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from coal mining waste.

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued an invitation to stakeholders to participate in a workgroup considering changes to the NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)  - PAG-13. 

On September 19, the Board of Directors of Rodale Institute announced the upcoming retirement of Jeff Moyer from the position of Chief Executive Officer.

On September 20, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced it has finalized the Policy and Guidance Statement for the Settlement of Civil Penalties/Enforcement Actions and the SRBC Civil Penalty Matrix.

On September 15, the PA Municipal Authorities Association announced the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority and the Chester Water Authority with Communications Awards.

Clean out the garage…the basement…the overflowing closets throughout the house because the region’s annual large-scale collection of materials to be reused by local nonprofits will take place on Saturday, October 15, in Allegheny County.

Keep PA Beautiful, in partnership with DEP and PennDOT, will hold a statewide Litter Summit November 1-2 at the Holiday Inn in the City of Lancaster.

On September 21, the Department of Environmental Protection finalized a remediation plan to address contamination in soil, groundwater, and surface water, and provide for a public water connection to a private homeowner at the Bishop Tube Hazardous Site Cleanup Act site in East Whiteland Township, Chester County.

Highlighting some of the world’s most beautiful and diverse fall foliage, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources again is making its experts available to serve as regional advisers, offering tips and resources to help residents and visitors experience a colorful autumn in a variety of ways across the Commonwealth.

Would you like to learn more about the birds you see throughout the seasons? Are you interested in birds and their migratory patterns? Would you like to participate in a large community science project across several state parks?

DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Council is scheduled to meet September 28 to hear updates on three new state parks and new utility-scale solar facility guidance.

DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation recently published three tutorial videos that will help Pennsylvanians apply for and manage DCNR grants, including the special Fall Grant Round.

The Executive Partners of the Pennsylvania Water Trail Program-- the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Fish and Boat Commission, the National Park Service, and the PA Environmental Council-- are pleased to announce the Perkiomen Creek is now an officially-designated Water Trail.

The Keystone Trails Association’s Fall Hiking Weekend is an annual tradition, bringing together a constituency of outdoor enthusiasts for two and a half days of inspiring hikes, informative programs, and engagement with fellow explorers and trail organizations.

The September 23 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks & Forests Foundation--

On September 14 - 15, Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin joined partners this week in touring projects in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

On September 19, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced the permanent protection of 348 acres of forest and wetlands in Union Township, Erie County, through a conservation easement.

Earlier in September, Gov. Tom Wolf announced an ​historic investment of $90 million for more than 330 projects across Pennsylvania that will create new recreational opportunities, conserve natural resources, and help revitalize local communities.  Read more here.

The Brandywine Conservancy’s “Bike the Brandywine” event returned for its fifth year on Saturday, September 17 with nearly 400 cyclists enjoying a sunny day along the Brandywine Creek Greenway and surrounding Chester County countryside.

To honor the memory of distinguished forest educator and visionary conservationist James C. Finley, the Crawford County-based  Foundation for Sustainable Forests is introducing a new annual event, the Jim Finley Stewardship Day.

Opportunities to learn more about environmental and energy issues affecting Pennsylvania for students and adults--

DCNR's Bureau of State Parks distributed a Back To School edition of its Environmental Education newsletter featuring education activities to jump start the school year!

WeConservePA has issued a call for presentation proposals for the 2023 PA Land Conservation Conference set for April 26-28 in Reading.  Proposals due October 21.

The PA Association of Environmental Educators has issued a call for presentation proposals for their 2023 Annual Conference to be held March 13-14 at Camp Hebron in Halifax, Dauphin County.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers will host another in its series of Lunch & Learn Webinars on October 18 on How To Make Instagram Work for You starting at Noon.

By Dave Blehi, Penn State News 

The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program will host a November 3 webinar on Local Climate Action Planning from 11:00 a.m. to Noon.

The Upper Delaware River region is home to one of the largest wintering populations of bald eagles in the northeast.

The Summer 2022 newsletter from the PA Natural Heritage Program is now available featuring articles on--

The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week-- 

On September 20, State Reps. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia), and Danielle Friel Otten (D-Chester), and state Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) and Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, led a Senate-House Climate Caucus news conference celebrating Climate Action Week in Harrisburg.

Articles and NewsClips about federal actions impacting Pennsylvania-- 

On September 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the award of $240 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to Pennsylvania for water infrastructure improvements.

Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Moyer was well-received by Republican and Democratic lawmakers at a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing on September 14 as he provided expert testimony on soil health practices that support regenerative organic agriculture, America’s farming families, and U.S. food independence.

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the September 24 PA Bulletin--

Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers, PA Outdoor Writers Association, PA Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.